Traffic mobility in the Heights area is getting more and more scrutiny as building project after building project gets greenlighted, increasing the area’s density. To examine what can be done about this issue, the city commissioned Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. GUNDA Corporation, Inc. and CDM Smith to undertake a study “to identify near and long range projects that promote better mobility, and to consider and develop a multi-modal classification for streets within the study area which are inclusive of pedestrian, bicycle, transit, vehicular and other modes of transportation.”

The area under study is much greater than the Greater Heights (look at the map here), bounded as it is on the east by US 59, on the south by Interstate 10, and on the north and west by Loop 610. However, the Heights area does form the heart of the study’s focus.

One thing the city does not intend to do is simply ignore previous work. As a matter of fact, according to the Mobility Planning website of the project, the study contractors are specifically tasked to “build upon the lessons learned from other sub-regional mobility studies and findings from prior studies. This study will also explore efficient and context sensitive mobility solutions for all users of the transportation system. It will evaluate the overall system network to make it efficient to address the current and future needs within the study area. Given the limitation of the current conventional street classification system, the City Mobility Planning (CMP Phase 1) process recommended a multi-modal street classification system to utilize within the COH.”

What that means is that as far as the city is concerned, at this point all mobility options are on the table. That’s what makes this meeting crucial because as the I-45 North planning process has shown, urban planners and consultants come and go, but the views of residents, those who will be affected by these decisions for years to come, carry significant weight. Though of course, the opinions of those who don’t speak up carry none.

The city is trying to get a head count in advance, so if you plan on attending, RSVP here.